mami tries

Sometimes, I have nothing to say, which is very un-Cuban. Sometimes, I force myself to say nothing, which is very American. I have been fighting with the two sides of my brain: Shut up…or just say it? On what? The Disgusting Nature of this Election. Well, yes. But, I am only 47% ready on […]

Am I Really Bilingual? I think this is an open letter to parents raising bilingual, Spanish-speaking children in America. For parents, like me, whose kids are speaking and reading English at school and hablando un poco de español at home. I have had a realization. A thunderbolt to the cabeza. A “guau” moment about my […]

It would take you not living in the place where you grew up — far from the daily tastes, smells, sounds you love — to truly understand the joy I get when I discover Cuban/Miami-home-style food and products in Nashville’s grocery stores. In the morning, I ran into Publix to grab some coffee creamer and […]

Dear free-born, democratic country-living American friend…or stranger, here is something you can read before you once again utter the statement: “But at least in Cuba they have free health care and free education.” Not really true. And at what cost? Check out the photos from a 6th grade classroom in the Rocky Mountain state. They […]

Hey, American South, look what is happening: A new cuisine is emerging, born of Southern and Latino cultures. Que? Tamales stuffed with greens, corn ice cream topped with hot praline sauce, brownies with chile, sweet potato and plaintain casserole. Welcome to El Nuevo South. The ingredients of our people are joyfully intermingling with traditional Southern […]

A month before we got married, my husband and I were visiting Miami and staying with my aunt. She and I were talking. I don’t remember about what when my future husband said: “Hey, stop arguing!” My aunt and I answered at the same time. “We’re not arguing,” I said, surprised he thought we were. […]

Butaca = easy chair. At my grandparents’ house there were two butacas. If they wanted in, you got out. Pronto. My grandmother’s butaca spun and rocked and if you tipped yourself back too far, you risked death by head smashing on the Terrazzo. Word is Butaca TV soon will be launching a beta version to […]

Car’ai, this post was intended to be longer and poetic and maybe even funny, but I’m headed to Geek Squad con PDF problemas. Oy. So, without the fluff, let me tell you about Marta’s new Cuban cookbook. You know Marta from My Big Fat Cuban Family. If you don’t. Go there now. Hang out, read […]

from playthings.com: “Hip-Spanic, Las Vegas, will debut Lateenaz, a line of fashion dolls and play sets designed to embrace Hispanic culture and traditions. Each playset (Salon, Mall, School, Quinceanera) opens up to different play scenes and comes packed with themed accessories, mix-and-match outfits and a “Lateenaz” logo patch. The dolls have realistic body shapes, facial […]